Display rack



July 11, 1933. J T-r 1,918,056

DISPLAY RACK Filed July 3, 1951 2 She o ts-Sheet 1 l 1 J9 Hm 2Q Z. J0

July 171, 1933.

J. H.- PLATT 1,918,056

DISPLAY RACK Filed July 3, 1951 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 35 1 '12 49 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. PLAT'I', OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '1'0 KRAFT-PHENIX (LHEESE GOR- PORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DISPLAY BACK This invention relates to an improved display rack, and has particular-reference to a display rack constructed mainly of wire and designed for the display of packaged goods, such as bottled food products andfood products in other types of containers, for instance, cardboard boxes. The rack contemplated herein may, of course, be used for the display of other kinds of goods, although it is designed with particular reference to the display of food products.

The main objects of theinvention are: To provide a display rack of the type referred to which will be comparatively light in weight, yet strong and rigidpto provide a display rack which will display the desired products in a neat and attractive manner so as to increase the sales thereof; to provide such a rack which will facilitate the showing of all of the articles of merchandise displayed thereon from any selected-viewpoint, and, in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved display rack of the type referred to.

Other objects and advantagesof the inven tion will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying Y drawings (two sheets) in which a display rack embodying a preferred form of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the axis of the display rack;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the shelf structure forming part of the display rack; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of an element of the rack.

In Figures 1 and 2, the uprights 11 are arranged in horizontal spaced relation to each other so that the vertically disposed upper and lower end portions of the respective uprights are parallel to each other and so that the intermediate angularly disposedportions converge towards the upper end of the rack. The uprights 11 are maintained in the said spaced relation by means of shelf structures designated 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, each shelf structure preferably including a rectangular wire frame. The upper or top shelf structure 14- is illustrated in Figure 4, and it includes a peripheral frame 19, a pair of cross bars 20 and a pair of cross bars or supports 21. The arrangement of the pairs of bars 20 and 21 is such that an opening 22 is 8 provided centrally of the shelf 'to receive the upper end of the post 10, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The bars 21 may be considered supports in that they rest on a shoulder 23 provided by means of a washer 24 which ispositioned on the post 10 by suitable means, for instance, a cotter pin 25 which extends through the post. i

The shelf 17 is of similar construction in that it includes a frame 26 which extends around the upright members 11. The frame 26 has secured to it outer supporting bars 27 and inner supporting bars 28, the ends of sai supporting bars being welded or otherwise secured to opposite sides of the frame. Shelf or grate bars 29 extending transversely of the bars 27, 28 are provided in spaced relation, these bars constituting a support for receiving a supply of goods such as are displayed on the rack. The shelf'17 is seated on a supporting shoulder 30 which is similar to the shoulder 23 above referred to.

The lower shelf 18 also preferably includes a frame 31 which extends around the uprights 11. Spaced but centrally disposed cross bars 32 extend across the frame 31 and have their ends secured to opposite sides of the frame, these bars 32 also constituting supports adapted to be seated on a shoulder 33 carried by the post 10. T The shoulder 33 may also be formed by means of a washer and cotter pin, as described in connection with the upper shoulder 23. i

The upright members 11 are preferably provided with inward offsets,-

such as indicated at 34, for the reception of the frames of the respective shelves. The frames of the shelves may conveniently be welded to the respective uprights in the seats formed by said offsets, whereby the frames serve to rigidly maintain the uprights in the described position relative to each other.

The intermediate shelves 15 and 16 may be of generally similar construction to the shelves already described in detail, and they may be similarly secured to the uprights 11. However, inasmuch as the rack is effectively supported through the agency of the shoul ders 23, 28 and 33', inasmuch as the shelves 15 and 16 are not called upon to sustain a particularly heavy load, they need not be seated on the post. However, it will be noted that the intermediate shelves and 16 effectively co-operate with the other shelves to maintain the uprights in their properly spaced relation.

The upper shelf 14 may conveniently be surrounded by a comparatively wide facing which may be formed of tin or other sheet metal bent around the vertically disposed upper end portions 12 of the upright members 11. Thef-acing or side wall 35 may, of course, be soldered or otherwise fastened to the vertical port-ions 12 so as to be thereby retained in place and so as to assist the various shelves to maintain the upright members in place. The facing 35 constitutes desirable space for advertising matter, and it also serves to form a receptacle at the upper end of the display rack for containing such articles as may be desirably stored therein.

A similar facing or siding wall 36, preferably formed of sheet metal, may be applied to the lower ends of the lower vertical end portions 13 of the respective uprights 11 to form a retaining wall to retain merchandise stored on the shelf 18 and to provide additional space for advertising matter.

The intermediate shelves 15, 16 and 17 are each provided with brackets or auxiliary shelf members which are adapted to hold merchandise, indicated in broken lines at 37,

49 in inclined position for display purposes. Brackets or auxiliary shelves such as just mentioned are preferably disposed at each side of each of the intermediate shelves, and the said brackets are all of the same construc 145 tion, being merely modified as to length to fit the respective shelves.

In the sectional view of Figure 3, one of the bracket members or auxiliary shelf members is indicated at 38, this member being seated on the frame member 19 of the shelf 15.

The auxiliary shelf member is preferably formed of wire and includes aback member 39 having angularly ofiset, downwardly extendmg side portions 40, the latter having angularly offset, forwardly extending portions 41. The front ends of the forwardly extending portions 41 are preferably bent upwardly, as indicated at 42, and the upper ends of these upwardly extending portions are joined by a front cross member 43. .It will be understood that the bracket or auxiliary shelf structure embodyingthe parts 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43, are all, formed of a single piece of wire bent to the shape described, the ends of the wire being abutted and preferably welded together so as to maintain the same in the formation described. The bottom or shelf bar 44, disposed substantially parallel to the back and front bars 39 and 43, respectively, extends between the end portions 41, 41 and is welded thereto at its ends.

The bracket structure just described is seated on the side frame member 19 and welded thereto where the respective arts engage. The frame member 19 an bottom bar 44 thus constitute a shelf which co-operates with the back bar 39 to support packaged goods, and the front bar 43 constitutes a retainer for maintaining the displayed goods on the bracket shelf. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the brackets are arranged in rearwardly inclined position so that the goods supported on the respective brackets are held in inclined position substantially parallel with the inclined faces of the display rack. Also, by inspection of Figure 3, it will be seen that the downwardly extending portions 40, 40 of adjacent brackets are dis )osed in parallel abutting relationship, there y facilitating joining thereof by welding or otherwise, whereby rigidity of the structure may be greatly increased.

It will be seen that the wire-constructed rack proper is rotatably supported on the post 10 and that it may readily be removed therefrom merely by removing the cotter pins which support the washers forming the supports for the shelves 14 and 17.

The described display rack structure has been found to be very desirable, in that it forms an attractive display of the goods and in that the rack is light in weight so that it may readily be moved from one place to another, while at the same time being rigid and durable so that considerable handling thereof is not apt to cause damage to the rack. It is also attractive in that if a rotating display rack is not desired, the supporting pedestal may be dispensed with and the rack positioned on the floor.

Changes may be made in the described construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display rack of the class described comprising a central support, a plurality of relatively spaced uprights, a purality of vertically spaced connectors for said uprights, said connectors including frame elements connected to said uprights, and a plurality of wire trays, including an upstanding back portion and a substantially horizontal shelf portion adapted toreceive and support packaged goods for display purposes, said trays being respectively securedto said frame so that the frame elements serve as article-retaining members forming a part of said shelf portions, and said back tically spaced connectors for said uprights,

said connectors including frame elements connected to said uprights, and a plurality of wire trays, including an upstanding back portion and a substantially horizontal shelf portion adapted to receive and support packaged goods for display purposes, said trays being respectively secured to the sides of said frames so that the frame elements serve as article-retaining members forming a part of said shelf portions and being disposed in rearwardly inclined position so as to support said goods in inclined display position, said trays being arranged symmetrically about said central support and said connectors co-operating in the support of said trays.

3. A display rack of the class described comprising a plurality of relatively spaced uprights, a plurality of vertically spaced connectors for said uprights, said connectors including frame elements connected to said uprights, a plurality of wire trays, each including a back bar, downwardly extending side bars having angularly offset, forwardly extending portions, the latter having upwardlv extending, front end portions and a front bar connecting said upwardl extending portions, and a bar disposed substantially parallel to said back bar and secured to said forwardly extending portions, said bars and the adjacent supporting frame element constituting a shelf for co-operating with said back bar to support'packaged goods for display purposes, and said front bar constituting a retainer for said goods.

4. In a display rack of the class described, the combination of a plurality of relatively horizontally spaced uprights, said uprights each having upper and lower end portions substantially vertically disposed, and angularly disposed intermediate portions converging towards the top of the rack, shelves carried by said uprights adjacent their upper and lower ends, substantially vertical retaining walls around said shelves carried by the respective vertically disposed portions of said uprights, and a plurality of shelves intermediate said upper and lower shelves, carried by said uprights and provided with trays atthe outside thereof for supporting packaged goods in inclined position for display purposes, said shelves functioning partly to support the trays and providing a portion of the sup ortin area thereof.

J O N PLATT. 

